Critical Care: Pain and Agitation Flashcards
List 6 nonpharm strategies to improve patient comfort
- lighting
- music
- massage
- verbal reassurance
- avoidance of sleep deprivation
- patient positioning based on patient preferences
What two scales are preferred to measure pain in critical care patients who cannot communicate?
- Behavioral Pain scale (BPS)
3. Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)
The total BPS score can range from ___ (no pain) to ___ (maximum pain). A score of _ or higher is generally considered to reflect unacceptable pain.
- No pain: 3
- Maximum pain: 12
- Unacceptable pain: 6
The total CPOT score can range from __ to ___. A score of __ or higher is generally considered to reflect unacceptable pain.
- 0 to 8
2. A score of 3 or higher is generally considered to reflect unacceptable pain
In patients who are receiving neuromuscular blockade, _____ indicate further assessment of pain is necessary
Vital signs (elevated HR or BP)
What two scales are preferred to measure sedation?
- Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS)
2. Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS)
Goal sedation scores should be _____, but generally a SAS score of ___ or a RASS score of ___ is recommended
- Scores should be individualized for each patient
- SAS: 3-4 (sedated - calm and cooperative)
- RASS of 0 to -1 (alert and calm - drowsy)
Describe analgosedation in treatment of agitation
- Pain and discomfort are primary causes of agitation
2. Treat pain first and add a sedative if needed
To minimize discomfort, use ____ and _____ before potentially painful procedures
- Bolus dose analgesics
2. Nonpharmacologic interventions
In critical care, _____ are considered first line for the treatment of nonneuropathic pain.
Opioids
In critical care, ____ and ____ are considered first line for neuropathic pain
- Gabapentin
2. Carbamazepine
Describe multimodal analgesia
- Nonopioid analgesics (e.g. acetaminophen, ketamine) can be used in cojunction with opioids
- To optimize pain control and to avoid dose-related adverse effects
NSAIDs are usually avoided in critical care because of the risk of ______ and _____
- Risk of bleeding
2. Kidney injury
In mechanically ventiled patients, which type of sedative is preferred to improve clinical outcomes?
Nonbenzodiazepine
Explain the relationship between targeting light sedation and improving patient outcomes?
- Light sedation is needed for evaluating pain and delirium
2. and for early patient mobility
How should analgesics and sedative dosing be guided?
To achieve pain and sedation goals
List three dosing strategies for analgosedation
- As needed
- Intermittent dosing
- Bolus dose with continuous infusion
In a patient receiving a continuous infusion plus bolus strategy, what is the preferred strategy for alleviating pain or agitation? Why?
- Increase bolus dose before or instead of increasing the infusion rate
- Bolus has a faster onset
What two drugs are exceptions to bolus dosing strategies?
Propofol and dexmedetomidine which can cause hypotension and bradycardia
Use bolus dosing ____, such as before dressing changes
Proactively
List six potential benefits of schedule daily awakening
- Assess the patient’s neurologic function
- reevaluate lowest effective opioid or sedative dose
- Prevent drug accumulation and overdose
- Reduce time on ventilator (mixed evidence)
- Reduce mortality and ICU length of stay when combined with a spontaneous breathing trial
- Reduce symptoms of PTSD and post-ICU syndrome
How is scheduled daily awakening performed in the ICU?
- Interruption of continuous infusion opioid/sedatives
- Until patient is awake (SAS of 4 or RASS of 0)
- If the patient becomes agitated/discomfort/pain (e.g. SAS or 5 or RASS of 1), reinitiate, ideally at a reduced dose.
List three common opioid analgesics used in critical care
- morphine
- fentanyl
- hydromorphoen
Rank the onset of Morphine, Fentanyl, and Hydromorphone, and state the minutes
- Fentanyl (1-2 minutes)
- Morphine (5-10 minutes)
- Hydromorphone (5-15 minutes)
Rank the duration of Morphine, Fentanyl, and Hydromorphone, and state the hours
- Fentanyl (1-5 hours)
- Morphine (2-4 hours)
- Hydromorphone (2-6 hours)
Rank the half-life of Morphine, Fentanyl, and Hydromorphone, and state the hours
- Hydromorphone (2-3 hours)
- Fenatnyl (2-4 hours)
- Morphine (3-4 hours)
For each Morphine, Fentanyl, and Hydromorphone, are they prolonged in renal failure?
- Morphine: Yes
- Fentanyl: No
- Hydromorphone: No
Morphine, Fentanyl, and Hydromorphone, are they prolonged in hepatic failure?
- Morphine: Yes
- Fenatnyl: yes
- Hydromorphone: yes
Morphine, Fentanyl, and Hydromorphone, do they have active metabolites?
- Morphine: Yes
- Fentanyl: No
- Hydromorphone: No
List four critical care adverse effects of opioids (not all)
- Hypotension
- Flushing
- Bronchospasm
- Constipation
Morphine, Fentanyl, and Hydromorphone, do they cause hypotension?
- Morphine: Yes
- Fentanyl: No
- Hydromorphone: Yes